Submitted by
fisher_rider05
a Cross Country Rider
from Welaka, Florida, USA Date Reviewed: September 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Oleta
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa.com
Strengths:
mud traction
Weaknesses:
climbing traction, hard to install and take off, easily punctured
Similar Products Used:
continental mountain king, wtb velociraptor, bontrager jones acx, maxxis high roller
Bike Setup:
hardtail w/ thudbuster suspension post, 35psi tire inflation
Bottom Line:
This tire is a pain to get on the rim and even worse to take off with the wire bead. There is traction in the mud but when it comes to climbing this tire always slips in the rear. This tire can not stand up to thorns very well either.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marin??
a Weekend Warrior
from Ada OK, USA Date Reviewed: January 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Nu Draper
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Sun & Ski Sports
Strengths:
Provides good traction
Weaknesses:
cornering
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Marin Eldridge Grade HT
Bottom Line:
These are good tires the have good traction but are not good for cornering. Several times i have caught the side wall of them on jagged rocks and stumps with no damage. Dont expect them to help you any in the corners. They came on my new bike so i dont know how much they would be by themselves.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
HarrisonBn
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO, USA Date Reviewed: October 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dakota Ridge
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Good at correct pressure
Weaknesses:
Nothing special, weak sidewalls
Bottom Line:
These tires are very mediocre. Spanning 2 years of moderate use they wore pretty well, but I did get a few flats. Traction is ok, you really have to find the EXACT right pressure for it to work any more than acceptable. Unfortunately when I was out riding today I barely clipped a rock jutting out and it ripped through the sidewall... needless to say I had to walk the rest of the ride. Bummer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
WorldBTom
a Racer
from NorCal Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Skeggs, Skyline, KTown
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
Reasonable price, reliable grip, solid feel
Weaknesses:
Slow roller
Similar Products Used:
Kenda Karma, IRC Mythos
Bike Setup:
Better than yours
Bottom Line:
I am surprised by several of the pissed off reviews. These tires have treated me pretty well. When I am riding in burly, rocky trails I put these on the bike and they have handled predictably. They are a little slow, but that is why they grip well. Tire pressure is key when reviewing a tire. I go with 40 to 44 psi and I weigh ~170lb.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bikrboij
a Weekend Warrior
from Monterey Date Reviewed: March 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
there isn't many.
Weaknesses:
It corner's like a piesce of crap. It feels like I'm riding on a crumpled peice of paper, and cannot turn. it skids out from under me in soil, and when I even do the slightest lean to try to corner, it just skids out. Very horrible design, and durability.
Bike Setup:
2.1 moto raptor in rear, 2.3 moto raptor in front, darn it!! I need to change tires now....
Bottom Line:
I would not consider buying these if I were you. the cornor horrible, if at all. the tread design is very useless, and sucks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mikey Lord
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakeport, Michigan USA Date Reviewed: February 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Panthers Path
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
stock
Strengths:
easy to get off rim. And thats where they should stay!
Weaknesses:
thin sidewalls. no hold on cornering. horrible in loose gravel and sandy conditions
Similar Products Used:
any bare rim
Bike Setup:
GT-i drive
Bottom Line:
The worst all around tire I have seen in 30 years of riding. thank god for folding kevlar, they folded nicely right into my trash can. Nobody should buy these, or have the unfortunate experience of riding such an unforgiving, harsh feeling tire. I've received better traction from a semi-slick in mud than these can give. the rubber compound feels real dry and and stiff. threads show through on the sidewalls. And, they wander when trying to hold a straight line on the loose stuff, even with lowered presure.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: September 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
balanced all around performer with above average climbing traction
Weaknesses:
no outstanding quality to tout, a bit slow rolling, not a tire that offers much for road or urban assault so if you do a lot of that you won't find it versatile enough
Bike Setup:
Marin Mount Vision
Bottom Line:
If you need a do-it-all 2.1 middle weight performer with no real quirks the Moto 2.14 will please you especially if you value climbing traction and are not too put off by just average loose conditions turning/braking performance. Performance is above average for the type in climbing traction, snow/ice traction, and roots. Overall average in cornering; actually cornering is very solid on most trails but you will notice the front crabs and washes a bit easily in uneven and loose turns, fortuntely it can be brought back under control as speed is dumped in the slide. Cornering performance is definitely air pressure sensitive in front, a few too many psi really accentuates that feeling of wide gaps beteen the shoulder knobs and it will scrub sidewides, so experiment. Roots are handled nicely. Good grip climbing most anything. Average durability. Average in mud, no unusual strength or problems. The BEST thing is that this tire will not hurt you with some weird surprising quirk half way into long ride. If you wreck, YOU wrecked... the tire did not misbehave. TRUSTWORTHY, if a little boring. Not a fast pedaller with tubes; plenty fast converted with Stan's (I've ridden about 3 months tubed, about 3 months tubeless - it is less stable at speed done tubeless, but traction and especially rolling resistance are improved.)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch New Zealand Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Port hills tracks
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
came on the bike
Strengths:
good grip on dirt, rocks
Weaknesses:
Slow roller , hard work pedalling on roads. IRC Mythos is noticeably faster and less work in these conditions.
Similar Products Used:
Continental Vertical, Irc Mythos
Bike Setup:
Stock Marin Rift Zone
Bottom Line:
Really only for dirt use, not an all rounder, way too much like hard work pedalling this tyre on the road, feels like the brakes are on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Denis
a Cross Country Rider
from White Rock BC Date Reviewed: December 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Delta watershed
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came on the bike
Strengths:
great traction in the wet and dry( and i live i nthe pacific northwest also).
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
panaracer
Bike Setup:
IH warrior mostly upgraded
Bottom Line:
these tires rock. plain and simple. I rode today over days of rain over roots, logs, and skinnys,hardly no slippage... if there is, it grabs shortly after slipping and your on your way. for max traction you have to drop the pressure as any tire this time of year. climbs great, corners great too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stephen knott
a Downhiller
from townsville,QLD,Australia Date Reviewed: December 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
creek track
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
they grip well all the while the bike is verticle IE perpendicular to ground
Weaknesses:
wash out in corners unless bermed realy easy no grip on loose stuff.sand ECT.
Similar Products Used:
tioga factory DH 2.3,
Bike Setup:
ironhorse yakusa aniki, stock with homemade chainguide.
Bottom Line:
good if you don't realy push it through turns otherwise they're pretty ordinary.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dirtdog
a Cross Country Rider
from tulsa Date Reviewed: September 25, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Hooks up
Similar Products Used:
you name it
Bike Setup:
singlespeed
Bottom Line:
Im always looking for a rear tire that doesn't give up when I stand up and lay down the power. The moto raptor can take more than I can give! Hooks up on roots, loose, rocky, you name it. Descends well too. 2.1 motoraptor in rear, 2.3 weirwolf up front. Nice combo!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cory
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Date Reviewed: July 2, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light Weight, good treat
Weaknesses:
Kind of wear fast
Similar Products Used:
Nokian NBT 2.3
Bike Setup:
2005 Kona Dawg, Full XT
Bottom Line:
Good allround tire. I've used it in wet/ muddy conditions as well as dry and rocky and they seemed to be fine. The look like they wear down pretty quick though if you ride them alot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwich, CT Date Reviewed: June 11, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
nashbar
Strengths:
Good grip and performance
Weaknesses:
Poor durability
Similar Products Used:
IRC pirahna pro, specialized, geax hook
Bike Setup:
cannondale xc hardtail - using motoraptor as rear tire
Bottom Line:
I've been riding this tire as a rear tire for a little under 2 years in a mix of conditions: on-road, off-road, hard-pack, mud. I probably put on 300-400 miles each year. It has done fairly well in most conditions and seems to grip pretty well provided there is enough weigh on the tire. My main complaint is durability, the tread has worn down a lot already and the sidewalls are starting to tear.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Terrance
a Cross Country Rider
from Issaquah, Washington, USA Date Reviewed: May 16, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
rei
Strengths:
lasted quite a long time, seems to work alright in most conditions, fair traction in corners, inexpensive
Weaknesses:
can slip easy in wet conditions.
Bike Setup:
03 jamis dakar xc comp, with shimano disc brakes
Bottom Line:
this is the best tire I've used so far. I put this tire, the 2.14 on the back and a 2.4 motoraptor on front. In the great Pacific northwest here it rains quite a bit and this tire can wash out from under you fairly easy over wet roots and rocks. I've also tried Tioga blue dragon 2.1's and those were much worse then the motoraptor. So far I've only ridden these two tires for any length of time and out of the two this came out on top. Still for wet weather I think somthing else would be better. I hear the Panaracer trailblaster works well for wet conditions, I'll try those next.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wade
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA Date Reviewed: April 18, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
AS mentioned, rolls well for a knobby.
Weaknesses:
Terrible on wet conditions we have up in the pacific northwest.
Similar Products Used:
WTB Weirwofl
Bike Setup:
05 Diamondback XSL Elite - stock tires
Bottom Line:
I rode my inagural ride on the above bike and I was not happy.
These tires slid like banshees on any and every root that presented itself - which are legion here. I biffed it multiple times on roots that I rode all last year on WTB Weirwolfs without a single problem.
They've already come off in favor of my Weirwolfs. Yuk. The might be great on dry desert stuff, but the aforementioned tires do just as good and they do both with aplomb.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mule Marine
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas Date Reviewed: April 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
WTBK "The Swamp"
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Gart Sports
Strengths:
The grip is outstanding!!!! Can't be beat
Weaknesses:
Rolling resistance is tough on hardpack and roads. Not uncommon for such a narly treaded tire.
Similar Products Used:
Kenda.....lot's of other umentionables.
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse Defender SE. Nothing special. New rims and upgraded disk brakes. Still cost under $1000.....which if fine w/ me.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is these tires are great for cross country riding. They grip where many others fail. Riding uphill on loose or hard surfaces they are awesome. As the same for downhilling, great traction. I've never had any problems with bad traction, as long as I can get a lug on the hill I can get traction. They are exceptional for riding cantelevered slopes, such as riding up an incline that slopes Left-to-right (or R-to-L) and uphill. I've ridden several different bikes and setups with different tires; all specifically for cross country style riding; not a single tire grips like this one. When the going get's tough, most of their tires will spin where this one bites down hard. When it come's to breaking this tires doesn't really stand out for me. It breaks hard and dependable, but i wouldn't say it's any better than any other tire I've tried.
The sidewalls do seem a bit thin when lacing the tire up to the rim, but I haven't had a sidwall problem yet. I routinely ride this tire through jagged rocks and nasty sections of trail that include way to many sticks (just ask my rear derailer), but I've never suffered a sidewall puncture yet. Matter of fact, I have yet to get any flat yet. That may be due to the fact that I have an extra super duper heavy tube, made by Bell and bought at Wal-Mart, for nearly as much as the dang tire...(Lol).
Bottom line is; you need this tire, it's awesome in all terrain and it won't let you down.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trev
a Cross Country Rider
from Red Rock Lake, Manitoba, Canada Date Reviewed: March 26, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
came stock
Strengths:
Great all around grip, extremely wear resistant (I have thousands of km on mine, riding lots on granite rock, and they still have decent tread left), good grip in the wet
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Hutchinson Scorpion (junk), Ritchey Megabite Z-Max (good), Fire XC Pro (good)
Bike Setup:
NRS air frame, XT derailleurs, Deore shifters, speeddisc rims, Deore Mechanical Discs, Rock Shox Sid 100 fork
Bottom Line:
Great tires all around. They wear slowly, they have great traction, and are an incredible value!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Gillett
a Cross Country Rider
from Wiltshire, England Date Reviewed: February 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Cherhill Downs
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Mitchell Cycles
Strengths:
Came free (fitted) with Bike, fast rolling and confidence building on firm sufaces.
Weaknesses:
A very poor climber and very sketchy in wet muddy conditions
Similar Products Used:
Pyhton's (great when dry), IRC SERAC (the "best" all round tyre available), Velociraptors (good dependable all rounder), XC PRO (a over hyped, slow & noisey tyre that lasts less than 6 months).
Bike Setup:
Dawes Acoma Hard tail with extras
Bottom Line:
A great tyre for bombing around town on, if you avoid hills and mild technical stuff It's a fairly good buy.
If you want a good all rounder look elsewhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allan
a Cross Country Rider
from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: January 13, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Sportchek
Strengths:
Good grip in most conditions even Snow (considering what it is(frozen water)) very solid as a front tire. tread can take a lot of offroad abuse
Weaknesses:
wears fast on road, is noisy on road, cornering is a bit sketchy on road. sidwall not the strongest.
Great tire amazing grip. careful on the brakes though. i only have a problem cornering at 30kph+ (at least according to my trek speedometer). I have only gone out on ice so far with that tire and also had alright grip on ice. I am getting a replacement for my killed-by-road tire of same make. If you spend tend to skid 0n road this tire is not for you. if you can control your fingers consider it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bing
a Cross Country Rider
from Philippines Date Reviewed: October 10, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Bataan
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At:
Cristies'
Strengths:
Grip!!!
Weaknesses:
Abit heavy. (Will update more)
Similar Products Used:
Tioga factory XC, Kenda Karma, Maxxis harddrive
Bike Setup:
Hardtail, lite shimano stuff
Bottom Line:
These tires are amazing, I run it at 40psi it holds well in mud, hardpack, loose soil and gravel even grass! Very good and responsive when cornering and braking. It gives you that extra confidence when climbing as well. The key to these tires is air pressure too high and it tends to bounce, run it too low and loose speed but traction is much the same. Its abit slow on roads but its not built for that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TEXAS Date Reviewed: October 3, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
These tires brake and climb great
Weaknesses:
The outer treads and side walls are wayyyyyyy to mushy. These tires are NOT to be trusted in a long fast turn.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro
Bike Setup:
Specialized Rockhopper, Egg Beaters, XT rear DR, LX front DR. Slowly replacing all the junk Specialized put on it with good stuff. Front forks are next!!!
Bottom Line:
These tires can stop on a dime and their climbing abilities exceed mine, at this point. But only if you go in a straight line. Any turns lasting more than a quick slalom and your riding on putty. Plus, i rode the Enduro tires that came on my bike for over a year with no pinch flats. I've had 2 in the few months i've had these tires. They will be gone soon. I advise against them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Bolton, Connecticut Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
cycling concepts, rocky hill ct
Strengths:
great traction in nearly all conditions, rock gardens, smooth ledge, hardpack, loose loam. they instill confidence.
Weaknesses:
fair traction in muddy conditions. durabilty of the tire is questionable. sidewalls very thin and get damaged easily. no tubless version available.
Similar Products Used:
continentals, maxxis, irc, panaracer,
Bike Setup:
intense spider xvp, carbon seatpost and bars, xtr drivetrain
Bottom Line:
The rating is for the 2.24 race model, running stan's on tubless rims. the tires mounted very easily on mavic crossmax rims. Overall the tires are great with the exception of very thin carcass which seems to get damaged too easily, but this could be from the exceptional confidence inspiring traction that will have you traveling at breakneck speeds, through, over and around everything!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marvs
a Cross Country Rider
from Paranaque, Philippines Date Reviewed: March 29, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great trail tire for dry conditions. Very good wear resistance. Low rolling resistance for a knobby.
Weaknesses:
A tad heavy (reasonable), could use a bit more volume.
Similar Products Used:
maxxis hard drive, specialized roll-x pro, michelin(i forgot which one)
Bike Setup:
CC hardtail with 03 zoke mx comp, deore group, avid mechs and singletrack rims.
Bottom Line:
These are my current tires that I would consider getting again. Very good for the real world, from everyday commuting on roads to trail. Most riders load their bikes on pickups and start riding as soon as they get to the trail. We ride 20kms on road to reach the trail which makes this tire ideal because it rolls fast (even on concrete) and resists wear well. Haven't tried it on wet conditions. I think I'll get a Weirwolf for that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyoda
a
from SF Bay area Date Reviewed: September 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Pretty good climbing traction, not bad on hardpack, good on medium forested singles, roots and rock.
Weaknesses:
Will bounce off of rocks and roots if the air pressure is too high, not enough volume to track technical terrain.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos, Hutchinson Pythons
Bottom Line:
Avg trail tire, typical 2.1" dimensions and competent performance. Tread does bite on steep technical climbs, but the air pressure has to be just right to avoid a harsh ride and getting bounced off of rocks/roots.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cRock
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
It's not awful in any conditions. Also seems reasonably durable. Overall, it's capable on the front end.
Weaknesses:
My first gripe is that this tire doesn't do well at lower pressures (<40 psi). The grip is much more consistent with higher pressure, but the ride is very harsh. Grip is none too impressive anyway, sketchy climbing in loose dirt and wretched in sand on mud. It's not a real fast roller either.
This tire can handle any conditions (good) - it just doesn't handle any of them very well (bad). It lacks the traction to make a good rear tire, but it's not terribly bad up front. I won't ever buy another one, but I'm not desperate to replace it.
I imagine it would fare better on the west coast where there is more rock and hardpack. In the land of mud, clay, and loose dirt, you can get a lot better tire for the same price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyler Long
a Cross Country Rider
from London Ontario Canada Date Reviewed: July 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Fanshawe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Sport Chek
Strengths:
they have great grip on corners they dont wear too fast at all unless u skid alot. i find that they grip fairly well on all sorts of terrain but sand definetly slows them down alot, they spin great (mine r a little wobbly due to a ride in a backpack).
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Kenda 1.9"
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse Warrior disc
Bottom Line:
overall this is a good tire i think, and i suggest that if u dont have a lot of money to spend but need a good tire get this one
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Walter Guan
a
from Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Date Reviewed: June 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
LBS(stock)
Strengths:
UPDATE
Weaknesses:
UPDATE
Bottom Line:
Well, This is to make up for the not so good review earlier. It is not slow on roads. Its damn fast, the closest u can get to slicks(in a full knod tire). It corners well.
The problem is sand. But then again its better than a lot in sand! Hey Cheap and Good. Wow! Gonna try Weirwolfs next.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neil
a Weekend Warrior
from Tallahassee, Florida Date Reviewed: June 1, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycles
Strengths:
This review is for the MotoRaptor 2.24 Race which is quite different from the MotoRaptor 2.1. The 2.24 tire has awesome knobs which give great grip on hardpack and soft soils. It rolls relatively well and is a tall tire which can be run at lower pressures without pinching. Tire grips exceptionally well in corners. Works great as a front tire. Only 595 grams.
Weaknesses:
None ... so far.
Similar Products Used:
WTB MotoRaptor 2.1
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar XLT2 with Mavic 317 disc rims.
Bottom Line:
Great handling! Great price! DON'T CONFUSE THIS TIRE with it's little brother or the 2.4 Downhill version.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Vernon
a Cross Country Rider
from Elsah IL USA Date Reviewed: May 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
West Farm
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
old town
Strengths:
If used soley as a front tire it is light and very reponsive
Weaknesses:
Can't climb anything with dew on it if used as a back
Similar Products Used:
MTB velociraptor, Pysco
Bike Setup:
GT avalanche w/disc,XT, Judy XC
Bottom Line:
IF you climb at all with this tire in anything other than hard pack the tire just spins.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from kingwood Texas U.S.A Date Reviewed: May 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
gunsmoke ranch
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
stock oem
Strengths:
dont puncture easy. when mountain biking in west texas my dads bontragers looked like swiss cheese and my motoraptors were intacted.
Weaknesses:
they dont offer much climbing taction nor cornering. they dont shed mud very good either. I have about 700 miles and the bactire is about 75% worn.
Similar Products Used:
velociraptors, bontragers
Bike Setup:
2000 giant xtc se2
Bottom Line:
these tires dont offer much traction. Cornering is very sketchy and not inspiring. They suck in the sand. there durability and price save them some what.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Gnarly
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Neilsons Bike Shop
Strengths:
Light, good overall performance
Weaknesses:
None that I can tell
Similar Products Used:
You name it!
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Vertex
Bottom Line:
I can't understand all the bad reviews for this tire. I have used many tires that have cost much more that didn't perform nearly as well as the MotoRaptors. These tire roll fast, brake well, and have lots of traction. As far as cornering, it's like being on rails. Maybe some of the other riders who have had trouble should try some different tire pressures. I run about 38 in the front and 42 psi in the rear tire (I weigh about 178 lbs).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Walter Guan
a
from Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003
This tire does the job. The best part? Its price. My sets are 2 years old and they are almost worn out. When cash rolls in, these rolls out. They have served me well. I kept blowing my rear tubes(Hutchinson ultralight) until I switched to Michelin standard tubes. These tyres are not meant to go with ultralights(rear). If price is a problem, then get them. If not, something better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Wall
a Cross Country Rider
from Troutdale, OR. USA Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any time, any where
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Gresham Bike Co.
Strengths:
This tire came on the 2001-GT I-Drive 3.0 I just bought last week. Far as I'm concerned there strong in the; SAND and small ROCKS that make up the Columbia River shore. Strong in MUD from light to slop up to 3". Simi-Strong on GRAVEL roads at medium speed wet or dry. The only time I got the front to all most wash-out was down a small hill on to a normal paved road but I taped the rear break hit a half peddle stroke she came back up A-OK. Strong on damp dirt roads and trails can power though coners with no problem right hand and left hand turns. Dry dusty trails will have to wait untill summer, it rains a lot this time of the year. ROCKS, we have river rocks lots of them, the type that roll around when your trying to ride over the rest of them! Will have to wait untill summer for that report also.
Weaknesses:
There is a big thorn problem where I ride you just have to keep an eye out all the time or risk a 3 mile walk back home. The only weakness could be that, but I have yet to get a flat from thorns. Far as what the others have said about this tire being weak, I read the other reports before I went looking for what they were having problems with. I tried everything to get the same resaults, I could not make this tire fail so far.
I spent one night before going riding the next day, and looked at most of the "against" the product reports on this tire. The truth is I did GRAVEL, MUD, SMALL ROCKS, SAND, NORMAL DIRT, UP HILLS DOWN HILLS, TURNS, WET STREETS you name it. I went out to test the WTB MotoRaptor on my bike. I weigh in at 160 to 165 lbs. 5'11" to give you an idea of size. I like to ride hard; I love sand and mud even the "IRC Mythos XC" tire will not keep up with this tire, and it cornered on a dime at good speed in the dirt and did good in the same sand I ran this tire though! Bottom-Bottom Line; So far this tire does everything I wanted it too. NO PROB! My saying is; "If you can think it, the bike you ride should be able to do it!" ...ride into the unknown...not away from it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brown Teeth
a
from Morro Bay, CA, USA Date Reviewed: April 3, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$12.00
Strengths:
Cheap, predictable and black
Weaknesses:
Washes out bad does not like to get pushed unless ground has some give
Similar Products Used:
2 many
Bike Setup:
FS, Marin/GT
Bottom Line:
A tire you can love to hate. Rarely hooks up on the turns but rolls OK, does not like to be pushed, forgetaboutit on the pavement in any crap. But if you need a front tire that is predictable it works. OK braking but scary when too fast turning and hoping. Definately a cheap tire that likes to take its line, lasts good, front tire has 800 miles all ST and still over 75% tread, have fun
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: February 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
supergo...came on the bike i bought
Strengths:
can't think of one
Weaknesses:
weak sidewalls/bead areas - tubes blow out yes... but tires don't blow out...
Similar Products Used:
just about everything from i.r.c to hutchinson
Bike Setup:
two-wheeled, human-powered contraption like everyone else.
Bottom Line:
ok so i know you can have bad luck with a tire, but.... on my second ride on the new bike i had the tire blow out. i'm talking about the tire here, not just the tube...about a six inch long section of the tire tore away along the bead line. ride over. i know, something slashed the tire, it wasn't mounted correctly, it was pinched somehow. i said those very same things at the time. supergo gave a new tire free of charge.very cool of them...that was the rear by the way. fast forward now three weeks and about a half dozen trail rides later....bike is sitting in the house, three days since the last ride. front tire explodes, scares the hell out of me, and what do you know...looked just like the rear did. now a new set of ritchey brand tires and happy trails since then. I know lots of folks enjoy wtb tires...but for me...i hate walking my bike home.
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Submitted by
Dan VanDurmen
a Weekend Warrior
from Tulsa Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Turkey Mountain Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$19.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Very predictable in a wide variety of conditions. Works best with a little less air pressure than recomended. fairly light wieght for big, full knobby.
Weaknesses:
I've got more thorn and puncture flats on these tires in one year than I did in the previous 5 years of riding put together. Front wore out long before the back but it's about had it too. It must be the softer rubber compound.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Notos, IRC Mythos, Specialized Team Control/Master, Tioga XC, Conti Pro 1, and Vitoria Outback.
Bike Setup:
Smart light trail/freeride hardtail with suspension seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I'd take another pair, maybe if they were free!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tipsy Russell
a Downhiller
from Pawcatuck Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Ray Willis
Strengths:
Grippy, knobby, sweet looking.
Weaknesses:
Super thin, not pinch-flat-proof, square.
Bike Setup:
Giant Warp DS2, all stock- Alex rims, Pilot air fork, Generic everything else
Bottom Line:
These are wicked good tires if your flying through a trail, but once you hit the road, ease them into every corner. I slid out and hit a truck when they were brand new, and it was completely dry and sunny on the road. Also, they slide around in the mud too easily. If your not an "XC Racer", and need a good pair of cheap tires, these will work. They are actually real light, and grip rather well if they arent leaned over 50 degrees, and arent flying through corners at 40 mph. I think that these are overall great tires, and unless your some pus*y XC rider who needs to shed those 12 g. to ride faster, they will work for you.
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Submitted by
mikeb
a
from Sodom in the North Date Reviewed: December 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
boggs mtn demo forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
downieville outfitters/price point
Strengths:
excellent in big rocks corner very well on hardpack newer 2.24 brakes very well works well as a front tire works ok in wet conditions
Weaknesses:
climb very, very poorly on hardpack or pavement heavy
Similar Products Used:
i started mountain biking in 1990 or 1991. that's a lot of tires
Bike Setup:
standard santa cruz superlight XC/trailbike 3in fr 4in r.
Bottom Line:
a lot of the last five or so reviewers hate this tire and i don't understand why. these folks might be either A)lots faster than me and capable of cornering many times faster than myself or B)using the wrong tires in the wrong conditions or C)incompetent boobs who are capable of crashing anytime and anywhere they ride.
i got my first motoraptor at downieville, where i had just torn open my lightweight ritchey zed on the rocks. all the shop had was these 2.24 motoraptors, so i had the choice of patching my ritchey and riding two more days at warp speed on sharp rocks or buying a new tire.
the motoraptor 2.24 (which MTBR has no provisions to review) is a very nice front tire, especially in dry, rocky conditions, such as downieville or the south side of marin county's pine mountain loop. the cornering characteristics of this tire at speed must be the result of a design which had marin county's mostly dry, hard smooth trails in mind as well. not to say that this tire won't work in wet conditions, since many of the fire roads and trails here in northern california are sitting in an inch or so of standing water. i must say that running motoraptors on both ends gives the superlight a huge improvement in descending over ritchey's zeds.
this is not a pure XC tire. they're way too heavy and draggy to be used as a racing tire. long fire road and road climbs will have you wondering why you purchased motoraptors if you do that kind or riding, especially the 2.24. i have never used a tire that i so heartily hated climbing on. the 2.0 i have mounted on the back of my superlight often feels like it's going flat, even though i run 45 psi in my tires.
tire performance and be a highly subjective matter. one rider may hate a tire and another might call it the best tire he's ever used. the motoraptor is'nt the best all around tire i have ever used, but it's the best cornering and descending tire i've used since i started riding back in 90 or 91. i don't think it deserves the low ratings given here by some of the more recent reviewers, but then again, the motoraptor might not have been the right tire for thier skill levels or localities.
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Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Wethersfield Ct. Date Reviewed: November 27, 2002
Soooooo tired of the poor cornering ability of these tires.Can't believe I have'nt changed them sooner.Took a fall resulting in new crankset to convince me to switch.
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Submitted by
calnhob
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: November 21, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Single Tracks
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with GT Idrive 2.0
Strengths:
Looks nice and tuff new.
Weaknesses:
- Treads fall apart pretty easily. - Cant climb worth anything. - Middle treads wear out fast.
Bottom Line:
These tires are sorry for rear climbing over loose terrain. Front are just as sorry in control. Not worth the price...unless if it's under $10.
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Submitted by
Gareth Clarke
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: May 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
all of 'em
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$19.00
Purchased At:
Bo's Knowz
Strengths:
cheap, reasonable mud shedding characteristics
Weaknesses:
slides out constantly on off camber surfaces (and inspires FEAR because of this), mushy feel when cornering under correct PSI settings
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer FireXC Pro, Michelin HotS / Wildgr. Pro
Bike Setup:
Rocky mountain Oxygen Race with beaucoup de changes
Bottom Line:
You get what you pay for. It's a relatively cheap tire, but this is no excuse for its refusal to handle cornering in any conditions except on the road. There are tyres just as cheap that fare a little better than the Motoraptor. I originally purchased these tires because the model I was looking for was not in stock, and I was looking for a tire with plenty of grip when used on the rear, that would clear mud reasonable well. Well, it clears mud alright, but doesn't do much else. This tire is appropriate for the rider that onlt ever takes long, slow corners. God help you if you need to turn suddenly.
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Submitted by
Pegleg Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from U.S. Date Reviewed: May 12, 2002
Favorite Trail:
the Knob
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Better than no tire at all, I guess. It came with the bike so it was free. Good on hardpack
Weaknesses:
Puncture flats, pinch flats, miserable traction on loose/gravelly surfaces.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Kujo DH, Panaracer Fire XC, IRC el gato, Panaracer Mud, Nokian Gazz
Bike Setup:
pimped out
Bottom Line:
You can forget about taking any high speed turns whatsoever. This tire absolutely washes out in gravel, and I have the scars to prove it. On one of my first rides, it was punctured by a small twig from a pine tree. PINE!!! That's a pretty soft wood, man. How can WTB call this a hardcore tire if it can't survive a fire road? # chilis for value b/c it was free.
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Submitted by
a b
a Weekend Warrior
from RS Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
My own
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Newswangers bike shop
Strengths:
wears well/ good traction/ guides bike like a charm/ just the right rubber for east coast rideing
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
michilin wild gripper hot s
Bike Setup:
low air pressure
Bottom Line:
very good tire
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Submitted by
William Syx-Spears
a Weekend Warrior
from Downey CA Date Reviewed: February 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
anything without cars
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Russels Bike Shop Downey CA
Strengths:
Durrability
Weaknesses:
lack of responsiveness
Similar Products Used:
IRC, Specialized, Hutchinson, Chen Sheng
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Paragon, mostly stock
Bottom Line:
these are the tires that came with my paragon. I had never used any WTB products before. I had always wanted to replace them with Hutchinsons but could not justify the expense to our family budget as long as the Motoraptors were in good working order. It became kind o frustrating that I could not induce much wear into these tires. after a year they were still in excellent shape. It had been a while since the last time I had ridden a fat tired MTB so it was not until I got enough money a christmass that I could buy my long awaited Hutchinson Mosquitos. Now I see where the Motoraptors let me down. I control, they felt "Mushy" in the turns. road/trail grip seemed ok but "Feel" for road/trail conditions was never up there where I as an old roadie expected it to be. In fact it was not till I put on the Mosquitos that I could tell that my front wheel was slightly out of true. With the mosquitos I feel even that slight flaw. While my Motoraptors are gone they will not go to waste. MY next door neighbor commutes by bicycle and needed new tire I think the durrability of the WTB Motoraptors will do his cause justice. I can recomend the Motoraptors if your need is for durrable long lasting tires but if you want more sensitive more responsive tire that corner more efficently look elsewhwere.
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Submitted by
Dave T.
a Cross Country Rider
from Salinas, Ca. Date Reviewed: January 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Bobcat Bicycles
Strengths:
Light, good durability for a Med. knob tire. Predictable. Works very well in numerous conditions.
Weaknesses:
Could shed mud a little better but that's why they are making a 2.24 FULL Knob tire with "sticky rubber"
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC's, IRC's, Bontrager Revolt Super X's, and many Specialized varieties.
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight & Gary Fisher Procaliber Carbon Hardtail. I WISH PEOPLE WOULD PUT THEIR WEIGHT & PSI RAN. I AM 190 lbs. AND RUN 40 PSI ALL YEAR, USING A MOTORAPTOR UP FRONT ALL YEAR AND A NANORAPTOR OUT BACK DURING THE SUMMER
Bottom Line:
I live in Sea Otter country (Monterey County) and we have all types of conditions including SNOW as of late. These tires slide on wet roots & off camber log-overs as well as muddy-sidehill sections - BUT show me a tire out there that doesn't? It's all about the riders technical ability. I've seen Veteran Expert riders rail those afore mentioned sections on semi-slicks (Hutchy Pythons & Bonty Revolt's). Personally I feel comfortable/confident on these tires and recommend experimenting with PSI, WTB's are known to be a low pressure tire and 3-5 pounds can make a huge difference. I'm giving them high marks and can't wait for the new 2.24's for winter conditions. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions.
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Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Port St. Lucie, FL Date Reviewed: December 10, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came stock on bike
Strengths:
Traction in a variety of terrains seems good.
Weaknesses:
Puncture flats!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Mich. Wild Grippers
Bike Setup:
GT 2.0 i-drive
Bottom Line:
These tires came stock on my GT. They are the lazer DNA version (wire bead) which I believe is the cheap version. I suspect they have a pretty low TPI. These tires are a joke. I get puncture flats constantly. I ride single track mostly and my previous Micheline Wild Grippers never flatted on the same trails. I understand that many OEM tires are cheaper (low TPI) versions of the same over the counter tire. This may be the case here. They don't seem to track well in sand either.
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Submitted by
Andrew K
a Racer
from Granby, MA Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Teachnical at Bachelor
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Good traction both front and rear, but only when rear tire is reversed. Good high speed traction through hardpack and mud.
Weaknesses:
Punctures easily(flatted because of a big thorn), no traction on sand at low or high speeds.
Similar Products Used:
Mythos XC
Bike Setup:
Stock GT i-drive 2
Bottom Line:
Ok tire for racing/free riding.
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Submitted by
Mud
a
from Philly, PA Date Reviewed: October 3, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
I bought these tires based on previous good experiences with WTB tires. These tires are pretty fast rolling and are relatively light weight (< 600 grams) for a 2.1 tire. Grip is generally good when riding on even tarrain.
Weaknesses:
Round profile makes these tires a little sketchy in fast riding on mixed terrain. Also, lack of decent side knobs and exposed sidewall make it hard to bite when riding on off-camber surfaces. I run the rear tire in with the tread reveresed which helps a bit. Finally, the sidewall sliced on my first ride out with these tires.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer FireXC Pro- best all-round tire (I wish it was easier to find an all-black version) IRC Mythos XC; Maxxis MoFo XC (garbage); Michelins, Ritchey, Bontrager & WTB in various combinations.
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler XL - XT/GripShift drivetrain, 100mm Z-1, Fox Vanilla R, Avid brakes, Titec cockpit, Sun rims
Bottom Line:
I had high expectations for these tires as a good all-terrain/ all-season tire to replace my worn Panaracer FireXC's. I am generally disappointed with these tires in several areas - most notably grip, and durability. I probably should have waited for the 2.24 size to come out next month for a beefier tire with this same tread.
Bottom line - stick with what you know works best in your area, and for riding stile.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay Area, CA Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Briones
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
Bought these tires specifically for a week of fun and abuse in Moab. They turned out to be a great all around tire for the various terrain for that area such as dirt, gravel, babyheads, deep sand and of course slickrock. These are light tires with great all around performance. All the knobbies are still intact. They are also a great road tire and make a cool burrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sound when riding fast with low rolling resistance for a full knob tire. I have ridden them for a month, so cannot comment on durability.
Weaknesses:
One caveat is that I havn't ridden in wet weather or mud conditions with these tires, which might suck?
Similar Products Used:
Specialized
Bike Setup:
Lightspeed Owl Hollow with full XTR, Monkey lite riser bar, Kore Elite stem and seat post, WTB 2K TI saddle, yadda yadda yadda.......
Bottom Line:
I recommend them for dry Moab weather. Other people recommend the WTB Motoraptor 2.4 for Moab, which might be good for advanced riders who like abusive downhill, jumping and deep deep sand. However, the 2.1s are a lot lighter and are a great all around tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a
from South Dakota Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$24.00
Purchased At:
Acme Bikes
Strengths:
Grip Cheap
Weaknesses:
Dont Roll too smooth
Similar Products Used:
Stock Kenda
Bike Setup:
'99 Trek 820 Singletrack
Bottom Line:
As far as i know the tires work well, they grip on medium sizes loose rock, low pressures are great for mud.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mount Tam
a Weekend Warrior
from San Rafael, CA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Eldridge Grade
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Great in Dry Conditions. (Fire roads in the summer) Great in Loose Gravel Great with Fist Size rocks
Weaknesses:
Pretty fast wear and tear. Forget using these in MUD.
Similar Products Used:
Various Panaracers
Bike Setup:
FS 27lbs.
Bottom Line:
I have had great luck with these tires. I'm about to replace my rear, since I've skidded all the knobbies off the center row, but I will go for the exact same tire. Recommend using the WTB lightwieght tubes with these bad boys, makes for a super light wheel.
50psi!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin Bowman
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax, Pa Date Reviewed: July 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Hebron Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light Durable Wears Well Great Traction Good on Dry pack
These tires do it all. They'll tackle anything you can through at em' and want more. They wear great, and are really light for being such a knobby tire. A great bang for the buck!! WTB is the shiznit.
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Submitted by
Randall
a Cross Country Rider
from Roseville, CA Date Reviewed: July 12, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
mtbr
Strengths:
Light (532-547g) Tough Awesome grip Wears well
Weaknesses:
Time consuming to make tubeless (need to sand down the flow lines on the bead ala Stan's No Tubes kit)
Similar Products Used:
Velocirapters
Bike Setup:
Bianchi BASS and Ventana Fuego
Bottom Line:
An awesome tire!!! Switched over from Velocirapters because they were too heavy. At first I thought I would lose some grip but it was negligible (I switch the tire around for the rear). A great training tire on my single speed and full-suspension. About an ounce too heavy for racing though. I have tried it on loose dirt, hardpack, sand, mud, slickrock and pine needle/DG fluff. I found that it helps your steering through loose stuff if you tighten your headset(cartridge bearings)- less likely to oversteer/overcorrect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andrew paul
a Cross Country Rider
from sydney Date Reviewed: June 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
blue mountains
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
north sydney
Strengths:
Lots of air volume, great shock absorbsion. A fast nobbly. Especially if inflated to around 60psi.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't grip well on loose gravel, especially at high speed downhill, even at low air pressure. (not good for ones confidence). Unstable in the wet when leaning at a steep angle. This is particularly unnerving on wet roots and rocks.
Similar Products Used:
WTB Velociraptor Hutchinson Coyote
Bike Setup:
Giant ATX 870
Bottom Line:
These tires are ok in moderate offroad conditions and make a fast tire for sealed road / offroad combined usage. But if your a true offroader buy the WTB Velociraptor instead. It's heaps more stable and predictable than the often over-rated motoraptors. As I said above -in loose conditions at speed the motoraptors are downright scary with their tendency to loose all grip when its needed most.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mohamed Azmi Zainudin
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown,Penang,Malaysia Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Too many to mention
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At:
KSH Bicycle S/B
Strengths:
Performance & grip(even on tree roots!)impressed me!I rode mine at 40 psi.Traction & climbing prowness much improved on my bike.Good all rounder & value for money.
Weaknesses:
Not good in the mud, specially when leaned.However, I do not experience mud clinging on to my tyres as reported by other reviewers.Due to the knobs & grip,on flat surfaces, the tires roar...no biggie actually.
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Fire XC Pro,Specialized Team Master/Control,Dirt Master/Control,Continental Navigator Pro/Cross Country,Hutchinson Python/Alligator Pro.
Bike Setup:
Intense Tracer,XTR Shifters/cogs/cranks/F&R Derailleurs,Shimano 434's SPD,Hayes Brakes,Easton Monkey Rise CT2,Profile Grips,Easton EA70 Head Stem,Kris King Headset,Thompson seat-post,San Marco Era Seat.
Bottom Line:
Perhaps it's a bit early for me to sing high praises for the MotoRaptor but to date the tyre does not disappoint,so 4 chillies for now.What more could one ask for at such a (dare I say it?)bargain price!Kudos to WTB!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from Canada Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
ummm...there cheep
Weaknesses:
no grip in anything loose!!! useless in the mudd.....terrible in the roots....amazingly bad in the wet...
Similar Products Used:
irc...lots of stuf.
Bottom Line:
not good for any of the riding we do here....maybe they would be good in the desert where it doesnt rain or sumthing
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Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Shelton, Wa Date Reviewed: February 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
they are all nice
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with my bike.
Strengths:
They do fine in dry conditions.
Weaknesses:
These tires are not for western Washington. They are dangerous on any wet surface, with especially nasty sliding on clay.
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Wildgrippers, Tioga Psychos.
Bike Setup:
At first a Giant xtc se1, now Rocky Mountain Element
Bottom Line:
The tires are probably excellent in dry conditions. I will mount them on my spare bike, there better than nothing. Don't buy these if you have to ride on wet clay. They are constructed well, and will last an adequete time. I mark them down due to wrecks caused and making my rides fearfests.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Benito
a Cross Country Rider
from illinoiss Date Reviewed: December 10, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
cambriabike.com
Strengths:
-light for a full knobby - mine weigh 530gm ea, lighter than claimed -freakin' awesome traction, climbing, turning and braking. -cool buzzzzzzing noise on hardpack and concrete
Weaknesses:
-gum up in sticky clay mud, in loamy mud they shed decently. -rolling resistance
Similar Products Used:
IRC mythos, maxxis mofo and incisor, hutchinson python, some specialized tires, michelin wildgripper sprint.
Bike Setup:
litespeed w/ mavic 517 front rim on xt hub w/ wheelsmith spokes, bontrager mustang rear on xt. Motoraptors front and rear
Bottom Line:
These tires, which i got on a great deal, really surprised me when i first rode them. I was expecting decent traction, but nothing like this! On my first ride with them, i motoed up this short steep climb on which i usually have to keep my weight way back to keep traction, but not this time. i was all the way over the handlebar to test them out, and they didn't break loose at all! For the rear i reversed the tire's direction so the chevrons are opening towards the bike on top of the wheel and I was blown away by their climbing traction. The front rocks as well. I leaned waay into some fast, kinda soft turns and these things gripped like mad! the kinda grip that can allow you to pull some g's on a tight turn. The braking traction is excellent as well, especially for the front. Jam on the front brake hard with your weight back and you'll get tonsa braking roost. Real tough to skid with the front. The braking isn't as good for the rear because i reversed the tire, but it does like to slow down without skidding.
They're pretty light for full knobs, too. 530 on my scale for the non-DNA stuff. Just plain kevlar bead.
the motoraptors do have some downsides, though. The soil where i ride has high clay content, and when that sh*t gets wet, it gets gloppy as hell. And it sticks to these tires. It's true that it sticks to just about any tire with knobs, so i wont deduct any chilli peppers for it, but it can add a pound or two to your wheels, and its hard to get off. They also have, cuz they be hardcore knobs yo, a pretty loud ride. This sounds cool (bzzzzz), but if you ride on smooth flat rides with little turning, you'd be better off with a slick anyway. I still wouldn't hesitate to race these badass mofos, they really let you go fast in the turns and on the downhills.
so- these tires are great for steep climbs, sharp turns, and just goin' plain balls-out stupidfast on the downhills. For a half decent price, too.
$ 35.00
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